Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 124 The Thing of Emotion
Eli Xu! He's practically a born cold-blooded human being!

Xu Ling's arrogant gesture of turning around early and pointing at the scoreboard was like pouring gasoline on the already raging anger of the Bostonians.

The boos and curses from North Shore Gardens instantly increased by dozens of decibels.

Jeff Van Gundy sounded somewhat worried: "This is an extremely dangerous provocation! Mark, have you ever seen anything like this during your playing days? This will completely ignite the Celtics' anger!"

Mark Jackson continued in a deep voice, "I've seen it, but it usually happens to established superstars. For a rookie, it takes immense courage, or rather, an almost insane level of confidence."

Garnett growled at Pierce, "That's enough, PP! Calm down! Don't let that rookie lead you by the nose!"

Celtic's offensive possession.

Rajon Rondo steadily dribbled the ball past half-court, ignoring Pierce's repeated gestures for the ball, and instead lobbed it to Kevin Garnett in the low post.

This is the Celtics' most consistent and efficient starting move this season.

With his back to Hakim Warwick, Garnett, despite his explosive athleticism, appeared somewhat naive in front of the Wolf King.

Garnett leaned against his body, felt the strength behind him, then turned to the right, facing the basket directly.

Warrick was caught off guard, and Garnett, without hesitation, gathered the ball, jumped, and shot.

"Shh!"

4 is better than 5
After scoring, Garnett didn't celebrate. Instead, he immediately yelled at his teammates: "Defense! Mark your men! Don't let that kid get a shot off again!"

The Grizzlies were on offense, and Kidd was observing the Celtics' defense.

Instead of forcing a shot at Xu Ling, Kidd gestured for Milicic to set a screen. With the solid screen, Kidd shook off Kailang, forcing Perkins to switch. Kidd didn't try to score himself, instead making a bounce pass to Milicic cutting to the basket.

Milicic received the ball, faced the basket, and was about to jump for a dunk when a green figure appeared like a shadow to help defend – it was Garnett! His help defense speed was terrifying, and his long arms completely covered Milicic's shooting space.

Milicic was forced to pass the ball out to the outside, but the rhythm was already disrupted, and Josh Howard's three-pointer missed due to Pierce's interference.

Rondo grabbed the long rebound, and the Celtics immediately launched a fast break.

Rondo surged forward through the middle like a wild horse, but the Grizzlies retreated quickly, failing to create a numerical advantage.

Rondo surveyed the situation and suddenly made a behind-the-back pass without looking, accurately finding Ray Allen who had silently slipped to the corner.

Ray Allen caught the ball and quickly shot.

"Shh!"

The Celtics have taken a 7-5 lead.

"Beautiful defense! Brilliant transition offense! Ray Allen! This is Celtics basketball!" Brin shouted.

Then, Xu Ling received the ball and cut into the penalty area after getting rid of Ray Allen. It seemed like this would be an easy score, but Garnett, the monster who was just sweeping up the high post, suddenly loomed over the penalty area like the Wings of Death.

Xu Ling's layup was severely hampered and went wide.

Rondo controlled the tempo, running pick-and-rolls with Garnett at the high post.

Rondo used his speed to get past Kidd, drew help defense, and then bounced a pass to Garnett who was cutting to the basket. Garnett took a big step and slammed the ball down over Warrick, who was trying to help defend, and drew a foul in the process.

After landing, Garnett excitedly pounded his chest and let out his signature roar towards the stands.

In an instant, the frenzied atmosphere at the scene was like a kind of tangible air pressure covering the stadium.

Garnett made the shot and went to the free throw, making it 10-5.

This is what makes the Celtics so formidable. They not only have Pierce, but also Garnett, a top-five offensive and defensive anchor in today's basketball world, Ray Allen, a historic shooter, and Rondo, an increasingly mature playmaker.

From then on, the game clearly fell into the Celtics' rhythm.

Xu Ling attempted a pull-up jump shot after a breakthrough, but it still missed.

Pierce attempted to outmaneuver Xu Ling with his footwork, but his turnaround floater was also affected by Howard's defense and missed.

Ray Allen made a mid-range shot after catching the ball and moving off the ball.

12:5.

Kidd and Milicic executed a pick-and-roll, with Kidd passing the ball back to Milicic who was cutting to the basket, and Milicic made a hook shot in the paint.

12:7.

The balance of the game was broken midway through the first quarter by an unexpected matchup.

Rondo used his speed to force his way past Kidd, forcing Howard to collapse into the defense from the weak side. Rondo then beautifully passed the ball to Pierce, who was left wide open in the corner.

Pierce got a wide-open shot and hit a three-pointer.

15:7.

This is a dangerous sign.

The Grizzlies' defensive rotations began to show weaknesses under the Celtics' multi-pronged offensive attack.

Mark Jafaroni had no choice but to stop the game.

Despite being less than six minutes into the game, the Celtics had already demonstrated their fundamental strength.

In just two words, balance.

They are the league's best defensive team and the sixth-best offensive team. Few teams can match the intensity of their starting five, and they have many talented players off the bench. They can maintain this intensity throughout the game.

Despite the fact that the team's core consisted of three men over thirty, no one could deny that they were the prototype of a modern NBA super team.

During the timeout, Jaffaroni emphasized defensive communication and rebounding. He didn't think there was a problem with the team's offense because almost every possession was the best opportunity at the time. The reason it looked so difficult was entirely because the Celtics had Garnett as a bug.

Before coming to Boston, this monster consistently maintained a stat line of 20+11+5. Now, for the sake of the team, he is willing to give up ball possession and rebounding stats. Every game, he tirelessly defends pick-and-rolls, sweeps the high post, and then collapses back into the paint, covering most of the area inside the three-point line. In order to maintain this terrifying defense, he only averages 18 points and 9 rebounds per game.

What kind of freakish species is this with a penchant for defense?
This year's Celtics easily reminded Kidd of the Spurs at the beginning of the century. Garnett was like a variant of Duncan, but back then Duncan didn't have teammates like Pierce and Ray Allen.

Kidd, who always likes to control the game, knows that if the Grizzlies meet the Celtics in the playoffs, they will probably have a hard time winning even one game. However, given Xu Ling's performance at the start of the game, making good use of his offensive momentum might just be able to launch a surprise attack on the Celtics.

However, the Grizzlies' situation did not improve after the timeout.

Because Jaffaroni essentially only emphasized the pre-match arrangements rather than actually proposing any strategy, and he didn't even make any substitutions, he didn't know which substitutions would be effective. Compared to those renowned coaches who always know how to make adjustments to create variables in the game, Jaffaroni is undoubtedly a mediocre coach, and now there are no excuses left.

At the beginning of the season, without a good point guard, the team couldn't execute the SSOL system. Now that they have Kidd, the team still can't produce that kind of offense because the Grizzlies have already developed their own style of play. After Kidd came, he continued this style of play. As for SSOL? Let's just pretend it doesn't exist.

The Celtics immediately allowed Kidd to shoot.

As is well known, the biggest difference between Kidd and those who can't shoot is that he readily accepts challenges from his opponents.

You let me throw, but I'm going to throw anyway. If I make it, you'll be in big trouble, won't you?

The idea was good, but reality wasn't so good. Kidd missed an open three-pointer, and Josh Howard quickly committed a tactical foul on Garnett, who had grabbed the defensive rebound, to prevent the Celtics from launching a fast break.

Upon reaching the frontcourt, Garnett decisively moved to the free-throw line to receive the ball. Facing Warrick's defense, he used a fake shot to blow away his opponent, dribbled into the paint, drew Milicic's help defense, and then passed the ball to Perkins at close range.

This former media personality, known for his outspoken and often controversial remarks, is now just a quiet big man who receives a brilliant pass from his teammate and slams it home with a dunk.

17 is better than 7
The point difference has officially reached 10 points.

Garnett continued to pound his chest and roar at Xu Ling's location. Boos and screams filled the North Shore Garden. The atmosphere of the court, devoid of any love, was reminiscent of the Celtics' peak years. Those who had been beaten senseless even claimed that this place was protected by evil spirits and that everyone who came here would be cursed.

How terrible is that?
This might be Garnett's greatest value to the Celtics, because he truly brought back the old Celtics' spirit, like how he would pound his chest and roar in every game when he was excited, as if defeating the opponent wasn't enough, he wanted to slaughter them, he wanted to dismember them. It's like how the Forest Man got so excited on set that he stomped on Saki Kanzaki's head without prior arrangement. But this is the NBA, and even if Garnett stomped on your head, he would at most be suspended and fined.

The Grizzlies are now down by double digits, and they must find a way to break through the Celtics' impenetrable offense and defense.

Without a doubt, this time Kidd ignored the open space his opponent left him and passed the ball to Xu Ling on the left side of the three-point line.

Facing Pierce, who was positioned to defend him, Xu Ling didn't call for a screen. Instead, he signaled for everyone to spread out. He wanted to go one-on-one again.

This scene angered the Bostonians. How dare this little yellow-skinned man challenge the truth time and time again?
"Little Chopsticks Guy, you're about to be finished!"

"PP could easily defend against a piece of trash like you!"

"If you miss, will you fucking lose your memory, you Chinaman!?"

Then, a unified shout of "CHOKE!" rang out from the crowd, as they believed Xu Ling would suffocate under the pressure.

The immense pressure, like the eye of a tornado, could destroy the will of most people. However, as Grizzlies' number 1 began dribbling, his face remained calm, as if this moment were merely a childhood streetball game with his neighbors. All the noise outside the court became fuel for his self-motivation.

Facing Pierce's tight defense, Xu Ling kept his center of gravity extremely low, and the basketball moved quickly between his legs like a living thing, with the rhythm switching unpredictably between pauses and bursts.

Pierce gritted his teeth, his muscles tense, not daring to be distracted for even a moment.

Just as Pierce was trying to anticipate the next move, Xu Ling moved—a sharp shift in his body, taking a step to the right and forcing Pierce to subconsciously shift his center of gravity to the right.

However, this was just a feint. Xu Ling flicked his wrist deftly, and the basketball bounced from behind him to the left in a strange arc.

At that very moment! Pierce's center of gravity was completely shifted, and even a mere half-step of space was enough in a top-level duel.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Ling used the momentum of his behind-the-back dribble to rise into the air, his body stretching out perfectly in mid-air.

North Shore Gardens was silent for perhaps only 0.1 seconds before he made his move.

"Shh!"

17 is better than 9!

"Beautiful shot! Eli Xu hits a difficult jump shot over Paul Pierce!" Mike Breen shouted.

Pierce's face turned ashen as he yelled at Xu Ling, "Just a lucky shot, you rookie!"

While returning to defense, Xu Ling retorted, "It's like you survived being stabbed 11 times, it's all luck?"

If Pierce's experience tonight can serve as any warning to the world, it is that you should never let your opponent know your weaknesses.

Pierce's eyes looked incredibly angry and fierce, his anger churning within him.

"What the hell did you say?!"

Xu Ling ignored him and focused entirely on defense.

Completely enraged, Pierce, in a half-court game, didn't wait for the Grizzlies to set up their defensive formation before actively engaging Xu Ling, though his movements became somewhat impatient.

He used his strength to force himself to sit two steps further in, then suddenly turned around with a large range of motion, his elbow making a subtle upward movement as if trying to create space.

However, Xu Ling had already studied the subject of science with Kobe, so Pierce would have a hard time succeeding.

Xu Ling shrewdly stepped back half a step, avoiding a possible foul, while keeping his arm over Pierce's shooting path.

Pierce's forced fadeaway jump shot, under pressure and strong interference, resulted in an absurd airball.

The ball landed directly in Milicic's hands.

“FUCK!” Pierce yelled angrily.

Kidd received a pass from Milicic and immediately launched a counter-attack, creating a numerical advantage in the attacking third. He surveyed the surrounding area and passed the ball to Xu Ling, who was following up.

Xu Ling received the ball, facing only Rondo retreating on defense. He executed a slow but highly varied Euro step, leaping high and slamming the ball towards the basket with one hand over Rondo!
Rondo tried to draw an offensive foul, but Xu Ling's footwork was too deceptive, as if he was about to jump at any moment, causing Rondo to subconsciously take a small step. As he was pushed aside, the referee blew his whistle—he ended up with a defensive foul!

Xu Ling hung on the rim for a moment to absorb the impact before landing steadily.

The scene fell into a brief silence, which was then drowned out by even louder boos.

Kidd stepped forward and whispered as if examining some supernatural phenomenon, "I guess the reason these stupid mortals can't affect you is because you don't even have emotions in your head?"

“No, Jason, I have emotions.”

Xu Ling high-fived Kidd and calmly walked to the free-throw line.

He certainly has a wealth of emotions, but he knows that not all of them should be made public.

But to say that he truly has no emotions—

How could a truly indifferent person make such an emotional move under the spotlight? The lingering image of that finger-wagging still echoes over Cleveland.

If anyone still questions whether Xu Ling possesses human emotions, LeBron James would likely have a lot to say.

(End of this chapter)